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Sefton Council

Comedy Takes Centre Stage at The Atkinson this Season

Food, Murder and Brontë are just three of the subjects covered in The Atkinsons jam-packed comedy line-up this season!

Big names such as Dave Spikey, Gary Delaney return whilst Rob Newman makes his first appearance at the Southport venue.

Former Detective Sergeant Alfie Moore tells us all about Getting Away with Murder in his latest stand-up tour. Award- winning comedian George Egg (the Anarchist Cook) demonstrates more live cooking and hilarious comedy.

Lipservice are back with the Brontë spoof Withering Looks and we have our very own Laugh out Loud Comedy Club bringing some of the very best stand-up to Southport.

In the 200th anniversary year of Emily’s birth, the classic comic duo Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding, just couldn’t resist the urge to dust off their crinolines, wear flattering bonnets and sit at rained-lashed windows in a pale and decorative manner. Don’t miss the chance to share in the silliness too!

Withering Looks on Friday 5 October takes an authentic look at the lives and works of the Brontë sisters, well, two of them actually, Anne’s just popped out for a cup of sugar. Who is the Brontë’s mysterious neighbour, Mr Moorcock of Ravaged Heath House? Do Lost Souls really wander the wild and heather clad moors? Who should Cathy marry? Heathcliff or David Niven? Plus, Manchester’s very own Mrs Gaskell drops by for tea and sympathy. Ages 10+ Tickets £15 adult / £10 under 16s.

George Egg: DIY Chef comes direct from total sell out UK tours on Friday 19 October . A health scare sees George banned him from the family kitchen, but relocated to the garden shed his imagination and resourcefulness lead him to build an improvised kitchen there instead. During an inspiring and inventive evening of stand-up, live cooking and comedy lecture, George prepares a breakfast, a lunch and a dinner using the most unconventional of methods.

It’s funny, inspiring and absurd in equal measure. Expect power tools, gardening equipment and office supplies to be re-purposed and abused. Expect lots of laughs. Expect to learn something new. And you get to taste the food at the end… at your own risk! Tickets £14 / £12 concessions

On Saturday October 20 we experience first-hand how it feels to be part of planning ‘The Perfect Murder’. Everything you need to know from choosing a murder weapon to disposing of the body!

The star of BBC Radio 4 comedy ‘It’s A Fair Cop’, takes you on a thrilling and interactive journey through the art and science of murder investigation.

Enjoy Alfie’s trademark blend of humour, practical policing experience and detailed knowledge of the law as he answers the questions ‘What makes a murderer?’ and ‘Why do they caught….or not’?

Alfie’s TV credits include BBC Comic Relief, Bizarre Crime (BBC3), Confessions of a Police Officer (Channel 4) and he recently joined the presenting team of Criminals Caught on Camera (Channel 5). Tickets are £14.

‘Offbeat, revealing and very funny’ – Daily Mail

Dave Spikey is a much-loved household name, but did you know he worked in the NHS for 19 years as a Biomedical Scientist when in 1987 someone uttered the immortal words, “You’re really funny, you should be a comedian” and for some reason, he took them seriously!!

From his appearance in Stairway to the Stars, to Phoenix Nights, The Royal Variety and Parkinson, this show looks back on his journey and celebrates his 30th anniversary of his comedy career. See the man himself on October 26, tickets £16.

Stand up legend, best-selling novelist, Radio 4 Sony Award Winner Robert Newman attempts to piece together a philosophy for our troubled times in Robert Newman’s Total Eclipse of Descartes on Thursday 1 November.

He sifts through 3000 years of thought: from Pythagoras to Artificial Intelligence by way of Pavlov’s dogs, Jane Goodall’s chimpanzees and Frankie Howerd’s trousers. Tickets £15 / £12 concession.

‘He is the funniest comedian I have ever seen…A passionate, chaotically brilliant comedian.’ – Sunday Times

Gary Delaney is one of Britain’s leading one-liner comics returns to the road with another onslaught of lean, expertly crafted gaggery. A Mock The Week regular and recent star of the new Live At The Apollo series, Gary’s shows are renowned in the business for a near unrivalled volume of high-class gags. You should expect no different from this, when he brings Gary Delaney’s Gagsters Paradise to The Atkinson on Friday 30 November, tickets £16. Please note Coolio will not be appearing.

On top of all this funny stuff is our regular monthly Laugh out Loud Comedy Club night. On the first Saturday of the month Damion Larkin is your host and brings three top comedians to Southport. A great night for a group looking for an alternative Christmas party! Tickets are £16.50 / doors £19 / £12.50 parties of 10+

To book your tickets for any of the shows please visit theatkinson.co.uk or call Box Office on 01704 533333.

Join our e-newsletter to find out the full programme of events and activities – just visit theatkinson.co.uk

Booking fees of £1 per ticket apply to online and telephone sales. There are no booking fees for counter sales.

Bands with a bang wanted for Musical Fireworks Championship

Bands from across Merseyside with that extra spark are being encouraged to fire up their amps and get involved with the 2018 British Musical Fireworks Championships.

The search is now on for talented musical groups to take part in a special pre-show gig ahead of all three nights of the annual awe inspiring fireworks competition.

Each year thousands of people visit Southport’s Victoria Park for the Sefton Council run British Musical Fireworks Championships.

This year however we are holding three pre-fireworks gigs (Friday September 28 – Sunday September 30) to entertain crowds before pyrotechnic companies battle it out for the coveted championship.

With Saturday’s and Sundays’s bands already signed up, places are still available on Friday night.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills said: “This is the perfect place for bands across Sefton and Liverpool to come along and showcase their talents in front of huge crowds.

“The British Musical Fireworks Championship is an amazing annual spectacle and this year will be even better than ever before with the addition of the pre-show gig!

“We’re delighted that we can provide a stage for local bands and for their music to be heard by thousands of people from across the North West.”

Bands must be able to perform a thirty minute set on either Friday September 28 or Sunday September 30 from 7pm.

For more information or to apply to perform please send a sample of your bands’ music to tourism@sefton.gov.uk

For tickets and more information about the British Musical Fireworks Championships visit www.visitsouthport.com

Bullybusters’ Top Tips for Returning to School

It’s September and it’s back to school! Here’s Bullybusters’ top tips for returning to school – whether you’re starting a new school or going into a new year. It’s great advice too for parents too who are looking for the best way to support their children.

Get to know the staff at your school

It’s important to know who your learning mentor, pastoral support and head of year are when returning to school. Getting to know the staff will make things much easier if you ever need to speak to them for any help or guidance throughout the school year.

Remember your “Safe hands”

Bullybusters are very passionate about talking about the idea of “Safe Hands”. These are the 5 people you can count off on one hand that you can trust and speak to when you’re in need of help. Ideally at least 3 of them should be adults over 18. For example you could have 3 teachers at school to choose from so there is always someone you could speak to. The other 2 could be a friend, a sibling or even a pet. You can also use your “Safe Hands” at home when considering who to go to for help.

Don’t be a Bystander

The Bullybusters team often hear how no one wants to be a “snitch”. However, there’s a difference between being a ‘snitch’ and telling an adult what you have seen so that person can be helped. If you’re snitching on someone it’s to get them in trouble. Even if you feel as though you can’t tell the teacher, go and ask that person if they are okay and see if there is anything you can do. Encourage them to ask for some help.

Use the 4 W’s

If you witness bullying in the classroom or the playground, use the 4 W’s to tell an adult about it:

Who was it? What happened? Where did it happen? When did it happen?

Don’t blame yourself, it’s never your fault – Always look to seek help and support if you are being bullied or having a hard time for whatever reason. Talking to someone about what is happening is the best way to resolve the issue.

Use Bullybusters’ Website and Helpline

The Bullybusters’ Website tells you all about the support available from Bullybusters as well as helpful and practical tips.

The Bullybuster’s helpline is open from 3 – 6pm Monday to Friday for children and young people, parents and teachers – 08001696928.

Bullybusters is an anti-bullying initiative funded by Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley Council to deliver lessons, assemblies and an anti-bullying helpline. It is operated by the charity, Local Solutions.

War hero’s family found in time for Victoria Cross commemoration

Genealogy detective work by Sefton Council has successfully led to finding the long lost family of a Victoria Cross hero from Seaforth.

Earlier this year the Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Dave Robinson, asked for help to trace the family of Arthur Evans VC ahead of a special event in his honour next month.

The appeal went global with potential family links being unearthed in Australia, but for Sefton’s super sleuths, the family tree trail ended in success a little closer to home.

Now Arthur Evans VC’s first cousin, twice removed, Stuart Kirkland from Aigburth, will join Mayor Robinson and members of the Armed Forces to pay tribute to the Seaforth war hero.

Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Dave Robinson, said: “Arthur is one of five local Victoria Cross recipients who are being honoured with a special commemorative stone and I am delighted that we have been able to find a family member to be part of this momentous occasion.

“Arthur’s stone will be laid at Bowersdale Park on Friday September 7. Present will also be members of the Duke of Lancaster’s (Kings) Regiment and also the Anglian Regiment, under which Arthur served.

“Arthur was a true hero and his actions on the battlefield of Etaing, France, are something of legend.”

All are welcome to attend the unveiling of the commemorative stone from 11am on September 7 at Bowersdale Park, Seaforth.